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CVE-2016-8735: Apache Tomcat Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

CVE-2016-8735 is rated critical with a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8 and affects Apache Tomcat, along with 18 other products in NVD’s configuration data. Per its scoring, it can be exploited over the network, without authentication, without any user interaction. The scored impact on confidentiality, integrity and availability is the highest available. CISA added it to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2023-05-12, which means exploitation in the wild has been observed.

Vulnerability description

Remote code execution is possible with Apache Tomcat before 6.0.48, 7.x before 7.0.73, 8.x before 8.0.39, 8.5.x before 8.5.7, and 9.x before 9.0.0.M12 if JmxRemoteLifecycleListener is used and an attacker can reach JMX ports. The issue exists because this listener wasn't updated for consistency with the CVE-2016-3427 Oracle patch that affected credential types.

Severity breakdown

CVSS v3.1 9.8: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

  • Attack vector: Network. Exploitable remotely over the network, with no need for local or physical access.
  • Attack complexity: Low. No special conditions; the attack can be repeated reliably.
  • Privileges required: None. No account or prior access is needed.
  • User interaction: None. No action from any user is needed.
  • Scope: Unchanged. Impact stays within the vulnerable component.
  • Confidentiality impact: High. Total loss of confidentiality; sensitive data can be fully disclosed.
  • Integrity impact: High. Total loss of integrity; data or system state can be fully modified.
  • Availability impact: High. Total loss of availability; the component can be shut down.

Affected products

  • Apache Tomcat: before 6.0.48; from 7.0.0 before 7.0.73; from 8.0 before 8.0.39; from 8.5.0 before 8.5.7; 9.0.0; 9.0.0 milestone1; 9.0.0 milestone10; 9.0.0 milestone11; 9.0.0 milestone2; 9.0.0 milestone3; 9.0.0 milestone4; 9.0.0 milestone5
  • Canonical Ubuntu Linux: 16.04
  • Netapp 7 Mode Transition Tool: all versions listed by NVD
  • Netapp Oncommand Insight: all versions listed by NVD
  • Netapp Oncommand Shift: all versions listed by NVD
  • Netapp Snap Creator Framework: all versions listed by NVD
  • Debian Linux: 8.0
  • Red Hat Jboss Enterprise Web Server: 3.0.0
  • Oracle Agile Engineering Data Management: 6.1.3; 6.2.0; 6.2.1.0
  • Oracle Agile Product Lifecycle Management: 9.3.5; 9.3.6
  • Oracle Communications Application Session Controller: 3.7.1; 3.8.0
  • Oracle Communications Instant Messaging Server: 10.0.1
  • Oracle Communications Interactive Session Recorder: 6.0; 6.1; 6.2
  • Oracle Hospitality Guest Access: 4.2.0; 4.2.1
  • Oracle Micros Relate Crm Software: 10.8; 11.4

References